The Bengals punted on a 4th-and-3 on the Browns’ 48.
It doesn’t matter to NYT 4th Down Bot.

If you disagree

To be honest, I've kind of checked out at this point. The Bengals’ chances of winning are pretty high no matter what they do. Given that, playing conservatively and punting isn't a bad idea.

Here's the full breakdown of my calculations:

Option

Chance of converting

Chance of winning

Before play

After play

Change

Go for it4th and 3, opp. 48

49%

>99%

>99%

-

Punt

>99%

>99%

-

Field goal try65 yard kick (est.)

<1%

>99%

99%

-

What coaches usually do

Punt

90% of the time

Go for it

10% of the time

Field goal try

-

Based on about 1,001 fourth downs in similar situations since 2001.

What happened

Kevin Huber punt blocked by Marlon Moore.

Where did these numbers come from?

To estimate a team’s chances of winning, I use a mathematical model that accounts for a whole lot of variables — including the difference in score, the time remaining in the game, and the number of timeouts each team has left. On top of that, I have models for the likelihood that a team makes a field goal and the likelihood that it will convert a first down.

By combining all of this information, I can come up with the best decision a team can make, according to math.

If you want even more details about the numbers behind my decisions, my full model is available on GitHub. Help make me better!